Moving picture searching apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a moving picture searching apparatus, where moving picture information recorded can be searched easily when desired moving picture information is picked out. Of single or plural moving picture(s) S 2  recorded in predetermined recording medium, moving picture information which meets the condition designated by a user and obtained based on output S 1  of input means  2  are searched based on respective index information which has been recorded in the recording medium  6  with respective corresponding moving picture information. On the other hand, after this, when it is confirmed on the basis of the output S 1  of the input means that the user designated first operation mode, respective moving picture information S 2  picked out by the search are sequentially reproduced at a predetermined timing and displayed on display means  4 . Therefore, the user can look and confirm the contents of respective moving picture signals S 2  which have the condition designated by the user as an index information, without complicated operation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a moving picture searching apparatusand, more particularly, is suitable for use in a moving picture libraryapparatus which can record control information (hereinafter, referred toas index information) in addition to the moving picture information whenmoving picture information to be recorded is recorded in a recordingmedium.

BACKGROUND ART

Heretofore, in a moving picture library apparatus, when moving pictureinformation to be recorded is recorded in a recording medium, indexinformation comprising of letter information such as a title, a keywordand a registered date can be recorded in addition to the moving pictureinformation.

Therefore, in this type of the moving picture library apparatus, in thecase of reproducing the moving picture information from the recordingmedium, desired moving picture information can be picked out on thebasis of the index information easily.

Incidentally, in the aforementioned construction of the moving picturelibrary apparatus, when the index information is made, a title or akeyword input with emphasis on a part of contents of the moving picturebased on the moving picture information may cause a case where thecontents of the moving picture which can be imagined from the indexinformation is different from the contents of the actual moving picture.Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to confirm thecontents of the moving picture by the index information.

Further, in this type of the moving picture library apparatus, in thecase of picking out the desired moving picture information, the contentsof the moving picture on the basis of the index information is confirmedmostly depending on the memory of an operator who has made the indexinformation and recorded the moving picture information. Therefore, inthe case where time has passed after recording the moving pictureinformation, or the record number of the moving picture information hasincreased, there is a problem that it is difficult to confirm thecontents of the moving picture by the index information.

Accordingly, in the case of picking out desired moving pictureinformation, there is a necessity that the moving picture libraryapparatus searches the recorded moving picture information on the basisof the index information to confirm the contents of the moving pictureby reproducing the searched moving picture information. Therefore, theoperator must repeat the reproducing operation of the moving pictureinformation as many as moving picture information picked out by searchbased on the index information, and this has a bad efficiency to searchthe recorded moving picture information rapidly and pick out the desiredmoving picture information.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the aforesaidconventional problems, and is intended to provide a moving picturesearching apparatus which is able to easily search the recorded movingpicture information when the desired moving picture information ispicked out.

In order to solve the aforesaid problem, the present invention isprovided with input means for inputting a predetermined condition by auser or for designating and inputting a predetermined first operationmode, display means, and searching means for searching moving pictureinformation which meets the condition, designated by the user andobtained based on the output of the input means from single or pluralmoving picture information recorded in predetermined recording medium,on the basis of respective index information which have been recorded inthe recording medium with respective corresponding moving pictureinformation, on the other hand, for sequentially reproducing respectivesearched moving picture information at a predetermining timing whenconfirming the designation of first operation mode from the user on thebasis of the output of the input means and displaying it on the displaymeans.

Of single or plural moving picture information recorded in predeterminedrecording medium, moving picture information which meets condition,designated by a user and obtained based on the output of the input meansare searched based on respective index information which have beenrecorded in the recording medium with respective corresponding movingpicture information. On the other hand, after this, when it is confirmedon the basis of the output of the input means that the user designatedfirst operation mode, respective moving picture information picked outby the search are sequentially reproduced at a predetermining timing anddisplayed on the display means, so that the user can look and confirmthe contents of respective moving picture information, which have thecondition designated by the user as an index information, withoutcomplicated operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the firstembodiment of the moving picture library apparatus according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the firstembodiment of the moving picture recording/reproducing unit.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the moving picture filing procedure ofthe moving picture library apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the moving picture searching procedureaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a moving picture data controltable made at the time of the moving picture recording operation.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing each recording region of the disk.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the display screen of theregistration/search terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the secondembodiment of the moving picture library apparatus according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a moving picture searching procedureaccording to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the display screen of theregistration/search terminal according to the second embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be describedwith reference to the drawings.

(1) First Embodiment

In FIG. 1, numeral 1 shows a moving picture library apparatus as awhole, the apparatus is comprised of a registration/search terminal 2, amoving picture recording/reproducing unit 3, and a moving picturemonitor 4.

The moving picture registration/search terminal 2 is comprised of adisplay and a keyboard, and outputs information, which is input byoperating the keyboard by a user, to the moving picturerecording/reproducing unit 3 as an input information signal S1.

On the moving picture recording operation, the moving picturerecording/reproducing unit 3 records a moving picture signal S2 suppliedto be recorded in a recording medium with index information, obtained onthe basis of the input information signal S1, such as a title, akeyword, a registered date, and an ID input by the user.

Further, on the moving picture searching operation, when the movingpicture recording/reproducing unit 3 obtains the keyword designated bythe user (hereinafter, referred to as designated keyword) on the basisof the input information signal S1, the index information of a pluralityof the moving picture signals S2 recorded in the recording medium aresequentially read out, thereby a moving picture signal, having thedesignated keyword as index information, is searched from a plurality ofthe moving picture signals S2 recorded in the recording medium, then theindex information such as the title, the registered date and the ID ofthe searched moving picture signal S2 are output to theregistration/search terminal 2 as a search result signal S3.

Thereby the moving picture recording/reproducing terminal 3 displaysrespective index information of the searched moving signals S2 on adisplay of the registration/search terminal 2.

Furthermore, after displaying, if the moving picturerecording/reproducing unit 3 confirms based on the input informationsignal S1 that the user designated predetermined moving mode(hereinafter, referred to as browse moving mode), the beginning portionof the searched moving picture signals S2 are sequentially read out foreach predetermined time designated beforehand, then the read movingpicture signals S2 are sequentially output to the moving picture monitor4 as reproduction moving picture signals S4 in order to sequentiallydisplay.

In this case, in the moving picture library apparatus 1, among aplurality of the moving picture signals S2, the moving picture based onthe moving picture signal S2 corresponding to the keyword which is inputby the user is sequentially displayed, thus the user can search desiredmoving picture speedily.

As shown in FIG. 2, the moving picture recording/reproducing unit 3 iscomprised of a moving picture input processing unit 5 for performing ananalog-to-digital conversion and a data compression to the suppliedmoving picture signal S2, a disk unit 6 (for example, a hard disk)comprising a disk or a driving gear of the disk, an internal bus 7, amoving picture output processing unit 8 for performing an extensionprocessing and a digital-to-analog conversion to the reproduction movingpicture data S5 read out from the disk unit 6, and a CPU 9 fordrive-controlling the moving picture input processing unit 5, the diskunit 6, and the moving picture output processing unit 8.

In this case, a buffer having a recording capacity for a predeterminedfirst data unit (for example, sector unit of a disk) is provided in themoving picture input processing unit 5.

Further, on the moving picture recording operation, the CPU 9drive-controls the moving picture input processing unit 5 and the diskunit 6 in accordance with a moving picture filing procedure RT1 shown inFIG. 3, thereby the moving picture signal S2 supplied is recorded in thedisk of the disk unit 6 with index information. On the other hand, onthe moving picture searching operation, the CPU 9 drive-controls thedisk unit 6 and the moving picture output processing unit 8, inaccordance with a moving picture searching procedure RT2 shown in FIG.4, thereby a moving picture signal, having the designated keyworddesignated by the user as index information, is searched among themoving picture signal S2 recorded in the disk, then the beginningportion of each searched moving picture signal S2 is sequentiallydisplayed on the moving picture monitor 4 if necessary.

In practice, on the moving picture recording operation, when the movingpicture signal S2 is supplied to the moving picture input processingunit 5, the CPU 9 starts the moving picture filing procedure RT1 shownin FIG. 3, and proceeds from step SP1 to step SP2. In step SP2, adriving control signal S6 is output to the disk unit 6 through theinternal bus 7 to drive the disk, thus a blank area in which the movingpicture information for a first data can be recorded is searched in thedisk.

At this time, the moving picture input processing unit 5 sequentiallyperforms the analog-to-digital conversion and the data compression tothe moving picture signal S2 supplied to form a record moving picturedata S7. In sequential step SP3, the CPU 9 outputs a control signal S8to the moving picture input processing unit 5 through the internal bus 7to sequentially write the formed record moving picture data S7 in thebuffer.

Next, the CPU 9 proceeds to sequential step SP4, the CPU 9 wait for thebuffer of the moving picture input processing unit 5 to be filled atstep SP4. Then, when the buffer is filled, the control signal S8 isoutput to the moving picture input processing unit 5 through theinternal bus 7, thereby the record moving picture data S7 written in thebuffer is sequentially output to the disk 6 through the internal bus 7.Also, at this time, the CPU 9 outputs a record controlling signal S9 tothe disk unit 6 through the internal bus 7, thereby the record movingpicture data S7 is record in the blank area which has been searched atstep SP2.

Sequentially, the CPU 9 proceeds to step SP5, and judges whether thesupplied moving picture signal S2 has recorded in the disk unit 6entirely or not. If a negative result is obtained, the CPU 9 returns tostep SP2, and repeats a loop of steps SP5-SP2-SP3-SP4-SP5 until anaffirmative result is obtained (that is, until all of the string of thesupplied moving picture signal S2 are finished recording in the disk ofthe disk unit 6).

After a while, when an affirmative result is obtained at step SP5, theCPU 9 proceeds to step SP6, and forms an index information comprising IDinformation, title information, keyword information, and registered dateinformation of the moving picture signal S2, input by a user, obtainedbased on the input information signal S1 supplied fromregistration/search terminal 2, and forms a moving picture data controltable such as shown in FIG. 5 according to address information of therecorded moving picture data S6 recorded in the disk in first data unit.

Sequentially, the CPU 9 proceeds to step SP7, and records the movingpicture data control table in a predetermined area by outputting themoving picture data control table and record controlling signal S9through the internal bus 7.

Further, after recording, the CPU 9 proceeds to step SP8, and the movingpicture filing procedure RT1 is finished, so that the moving picturerecording operation for the moving picture signal S2 is finished.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the moving picture data control table, each ofthe index information comprising the ID information, the titleinformation, the keyword information, and the registered dateinformation, and the address information (for example, 1 to N pieces)recorded the record moving picture data S7 in the disk in first dataunit is formed.

Further, in the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 9drive-controls the disk unit 6 so as to collectively record therecording moving picture data S7 based on a series of the moving picturesignal S2 in the disk 10 of the disk unit 6 (for example, the series ofthe moving picture is collectively recorded in a sector 11 which is over“1000” in a sector unit or in a cluster unit collecting the sectors),thereby, the moving picture data control table of the moving picturesignal S2 is recorded in a predetermined recording area of the disk 10,for example, is recorded in a sector 12 of “1” to “1000” in a sectorunit or in a cluster unit. While, on the moving picture searchingoperation, when the CPU 9 obtains the input information signal S1 basedon the designated keyword designated by the user from theregistration/search terminal 2, the CPU 9 starts the moving picturesearching procedure RT2 shown in FIG. 4, and proceeds from step SP9 tostep SP 10. In step SP10, the search signal S10 based on the designatedkey word is output to the disk unit 6 through the internal unit 6 todrive the disk. Thereby, a plurality of the moving picture data controltable recorded in the disk 10 sequentially read out to search the indexinformation (hereinafter, referred to as moving picture data controltable) of the moving picture data control table having the designatedkeyword based on the searching signal 10.

Thus, the CPU 9 outputs the search result signal S3 based on the IDinformation, the title information, and the registered date informationof the each searched moving picture data control table to theregistration/search terminal 2 to display a list of the search result onthe display screen of the display of the registration/search terminal 2.

Sequentially, when the CPU 9 confirms at step SP11 based on the inputinformation signal S1 supplied from the registration/search terminal 2that a user designates a browse operation mode, the control signal S11is output to the disk unit 6 through the internal bus 7 to drive thedisk, thus the first moving picture data control table of the list ofthe search result is read out.

Sequentially, the CPU 9 proceeds to step SP12, referring the firstmoving picture address information of the moving picture data controltable, the CPU 9 outputs the controlling signal S11 to the disk unit 6through the internal bus 7 to drive the disk, thus the record movingpicture data S7 recorded in the first address based on the correspondingmoving picture signal S2 is read out.

Sequentially, the CPU 9 proceeds to step SP13, and forwards thereproducing moving picture data S5 based on the reproduced movingpicture signal S2 through the internal bus 7 by outputting thecontrolling signal S11 to the disk unit 6.

Sequentially, the CPU 9 proceeds to step SP14, and outputs a controllingsignal S12 to the moving picture output processing unit 8 through theinternal bus 7 to form the reproducing moving picture signal S4 bysequentially performing the data extension processing and thedigital-to-analog conversion processing on the reproducing movingpicture data S5. Also, the reproducing moving picture signal S4 isoutput to the moving picture monitor 4 to display the moving picturebased on the reproducing moving picture signal S4 on the moving picturemonitor 4.

Sequentially, the CPU 9 proceeds to step SP15, and judges whether themoving picture based on the reproducing moving picture signal S4 hasbeen reproduced for the designated time set previously or not. If anegative result is obtained at step SP15, the CPU 9 returns to step SP12and repeats a loop of steps SP15-SP12-SP13-SP14-SP15 until anaffirmative result is obtained at step SP15 (that is, referring themoving picture address information after the second moving picture datacontrol table sequentially, the record moving picture data S7 after thesecond record moving picture data based on the moving picture addressinformation is sequentially read out in the same way and until thereproduction is completed for the designated time).

After a while, when an affirmative result is obtained at step SP15, theCPU 9 proceeds to step SP16, and judges whether the next moving picturedata control table searched is existed or not, if an affirmative resultis obtained, the CPU 9 proceeds to step SP17. At step SP17, thecontrolling signal S11 is output to the disk unit 6 through the internalbus 7 to drive the disk, thus the next moving picture data control tablesearched is read out.

Thus the CPU 9 repeats a loop of stepsSP16-SP17-SP12-SP13-SP14-SP15-SP16 in the same way until a negativeresult is obtained at step SP16 (that is, until each moving picturesignal S2, having the moving picture data control table searched, is allreproduced for designated time).

After a while, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP16, theCPU 9 proceeds to step SP18, and finishes the moving picture searchingprocedure RT2. Thereby the moving picture searching operation isfinished.

In the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the CPU 9 displays alist 14 of search result in which ID information, title information andregistered date information of the moving picture data control tablesearched based on the designated keyword input on the display screen 13are arranged sequentially on the display of the registration/searchterminal 2. Further, the CPU displays an operation key 15 (hereinafter,referred to as browse 15) based on the browse operating mode forsequentially reproducing the moving picture signal S2 having the movingpicture data control table displayed on the list 14 of the search resultat every designated time designated arbitrary beforehand.

Further, the user places the top of the light pen on the browse 15 toinstruct, so that the input information signal S1 based on the browseoperating mode is supplied from the registration/search terminal 2.Thereby, the CPU 9 confirms that this browse mode is designated.

In the aforementioned configuration, in the moving picture libraryapparatus 1, when the moving picture input processing unit 5 receivesthe moving picture signal S2 on the moving picture recording operation,the CPU 9 searches the blank area for recording the moving picturesignal S2 in the disk of the disk unit 6 (step SP1 to step SP2), andrecords the moving picture signal S2 in the disk of the disk unit 6(step SP3 to step SP5). Sequentially, the CPU 9 makes a moving picturedata control table with an address of the moving picture data recordedin the disk of the disk unit 6 and an index information based on themoving picture signal S2 input by the user from the registration/searchterminal 2 (step SP6), then the CPU 9 records the moving picture datacontrol table in the predetermined region in the disk of the disk unit 6through the internal bus 7 (step SP7).

Further, when the moving picture library apparatus 1 receives thekeyword designated by the user, the CPU 9 searches the moving picturecontrol table of the moving picture signal S2 recorded in the disk ofthe disk unit 6 on the basis of the designated keyword, supplied fromthe registration/search terminal 2 on the moving picture searchingoperation, and displays the list of the search result 14 of the movingpicture data control table having the designated keyword on the displayscreen 13 of the display of the registration/search terminal 2 (step SP9to step SP10). After this, if the user designates the browse operationmode, the CPU 9 reads out the first moving picture data control table ofthe list of the search result recorded in the disk of the disk unit 6 onthe basis of the browse operation mode supplied from theregistration/search terminal 2 (step SP11), and refers the addressinformation of the moving picture data control table, thereby the movingpicture signal S2 recorded in the address is read out and the movingpicture based on the moving picture signal S2 is displayed on the movingpicture monitor 4 (step SP12 to step SP14). Thus, after the CPU 9reproduces the moving picture based on the moving picture signal S2having the first moving picture data control table for the designatedperiod (step SP15), the moving picture based on the moving picturesignal S2 having the rest of the moving picture data control tabledisplayed on the list 14 of the search result is sequentially reproducedfor the designated time by repeating the same operation (step SP16 tostep SP17).

Accordingly, in the moving picture library apparatus 1, when the browseoperation mode is designated for the moving picture, searched by thesearch, on the moving picture searching operation, the moving picturesare sequentially reproduced for the designated time, so that it is notnecessary for the user to perform the reproducing operation at everymoving picture signals S2. Thus the operational efficiency of the useris improved in the case of executing the moving picture searchingoperation.

According to the aforesaid configuration, in the moving picture libraryapparatus 1, a moving picture searched by the search on the based of adesignated keyword on the moving picture searching operation issequentially reproduced for designated time if necessary, thereby theuser can look and confirm contents of the moving picture signal S2,having the designated keyword as the index information, withoutcomplicated operation. Thus in the case of picking out desired movingpicture signal, a moving picture library apparatus which can searchrecorded moving picture signal easily can be realized.

(2) Second Embodiment

FIG. 8, where the same reference numerals are applied to partscorresponding to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, shows a moving picture libraryapparatus 21 according to a second embodiment and is constructed in thesame way as the moving picture library apparatus 1 according to thefirst embodiment except for the construction of the CPU 9.

That is, in the case of the moving picture library apparatus 21, when adesignated keyword is supplied as an input information signal SI fromthe registration/search terminal 2 on the moving picture searchingoperation, according to a moving picture searching procedure RT3 shownin FIG. 9, the CPU 23 of the moving picture recording/reproducing unit22 searches moving pictures, having the designated keyword as indexinformation, from the moving picture data control tables recorded in thedisk of the disk unit 6 and displays the search result on the display ofthe registration/search terminal 2 as a list 14 of the search resultshown in FIG. 10, in a similar to the moving picture library apparatus 1(FIG. 1) of first embodiment.

After this, when the CPU 23 confirms that a user selected a browseoperating mode to the input information signal S1, the CPU 9 displays amoving picture based on the moving picture signal S2, having firstmoving picture data control table in the list 14 of the search result,out of respective searched moving picture data control tables on themoving picture monitor 4.

Further, on the browse operating mode, when the CPU 23 confirms that theuser determines and instructs the position of a displayed operating key25 (hereinafter, referred to as next key 25) based on a next keyoperating mode by a write pen while displaying the moving picture basedon the moving picture signal S2 having the searched moving picture datacontrol table on the moving picture monitor 4, the display of the movingpicture based on the moving picture signal S2 is stopped, and the movingpicture based on the moving picture signal S2, having second movingpicture data control table in the list 14 of the search result, isdisplayed on the moving picture monitor 4. On the other hand, similarlyafter this, as the moving picture data control table searched is changedaccording to the instruction of the next key 25 in order, the movingpicture based on the moving picture signal S2 having the moving picturedata control tables are displayed on the moving picture monitor 4.

Thereby, in the moving picture library apparatus 21, the user can searchdesired moving pictures more speedily, thus the efficiency of theoperation can be improved.

In actual, in the case of the moving picture library apparatus 21, whenthe CPU 23 confirms that a user inputs the designated keyword, on thebasis of the input information signal S1 supplied from theregistration/search terminal 2, on the moving picture searchingoperation, the moving picture searching procedure RT3 shown in FIG. 9 isstarted at step SP19 and steps from sequential step SP20 to step SP24are processed in a similar to the process from step SP10 to step SP14 ofthe moving picture searching procedure RT2. Thereby the moving picturesignal S2 having first moving picture data control table of the list 14of the search result is displayed on the moving picture monitor 4.

The CPU 23 judges based on the input information signal S1 whether thenext key was instructed at sequential step SP25 or not, if a negativeresult is obtained, the CPU returns to step SP22 and repeats a loop ofsteps SP25-SP22-SP23-SP24-SP25 until an affirmative result is obtainedat step SP22 (until the CPU 23 confirms based on the input informationsignal S1 that the user instructed the next key 25).

After a while, when an affirmative result is obtained at step SP25, theCPU 23 proceeds to step SP26. Next, the CPU 23 judges whether movingpicture data control tables searched by the search are existed or not,if an affirmative result is obtained, the CPU 23 proceeds to step SP27,and the controlling signal S11 is output to the disk unit 6 through theinternal bus 7 at step SP27 to drive the disk, thus the moving picturedata control table searched by the search next is read out.

Thus the CPU 23 repeats a loop of stepsSP26-SP27-SP22-SP23-SP24-SP25-SP26 until a negative result is obtainedat step SP26 (until all of the moving picture signals S2, having themoving picture data control table searched by the search, are read out).

After this, when a negative result is obtained at step SP26, the CPU 23proceeds to step SP28 and finishes the moving picture searchingprocedure RT3, thus the moving picture searching operation is finished.

In the aforesaid configuration, in the moving picture library apparatus21, if a user inputs a designated keyword on the moving picturesearching operation, the CPU 23 searches respective moving picturesignals S2 recorded in the disk of the disk unit 6 on the basis of thedesignated keyword supplied from the registration/search terminal 2 tosearch moving picture signals S2 having the designated keyword, anddisplays the search result as a list 14 of the search result shown inFIG. 10 on the display screen 24 of the display of theregistration/search terminal 2 (step SP19 to step SP20).

After this, when the user designates the browse operating mode, the CPU23 reads out the moving picture data control table of first movingpicture signal S2 in the list 14 of the search result recorded in thedisk of the disk unit 6, further as referring the address information ofthe moving picture data control table, the moving picture signal S2 isstarted to be read out (step SP22), then the moving picture based on themoving picture signal S2 is displayed on the moving picture monitor 4(step SP23 to step SP24).

After this, when the user designates the next key operating mode (stepSP25), the CPU 23 stops reading out the moving picture signal S2 to readout next moving picture data control table (step SP26 to step SP27),thus the moving picture based on the moving picture signal S2, havingthe moving picture data control tables searched by the search, issequentially reproduced by repeating the operation in a similar way.

Therefore, the moving picture library apparatus 21 can solve suchproblems as contents of the reproduced moving picture can not be checkedwithin the designated reproducing time or the reproducing time is leftbecause contents of a moving picture can be checked easily, in the caseof sequentially reproducing moving pictures in the designated time. Thusthe user can check contents of moving picture certainly in thereproduction of the moving pictures on the moving picture searchingoperation.

According to the aforesaid configuration, after the reproduction of themoving pictures is started by designating the browse operation mode, thereproduction of a moving picture is stopped at desired timing to changeit to the reproduction of next moving picture. Thereby next movingpicture can be reproduced after checking contents of the moving picturesearched by the search certainly, thus the moving picture libraryapparatus which can search easily and speedily in the case of pickingout a desired moving picture from recorded moving pictures can berealized.

(3) Other Embodiments

While in the aforesaid embodiment, it has been described thatpredetermined conditions are input by a user or the registration/searchterminal 2 is employed as input means for designation-inputtingpredetermined first operating mode, the present invention is not limitedthereto and various input means can be employed.

Further, while in the aforesaid embodiment, the position determinationof the browse 15 and the next key 25 set up on the display screens 13and 24 of the registration/search terminal 2 is instructed by the writepen, the present invention is not limited thereto the positions can beinstructed by a pointing device such as a mouse, a joy stick, or a trackball, also a switch for instructing the browse 15 or the next key 25 canbe set up on a key board or the like.

Further, while in the aforesaid embodiment, a designated keyword isinput as predetermined conditions input in the input means, the presentinvention is not limited thereto and various information based oncontents of an index information such as an ID, a title or a registereddate can be designated.

Further, while in the aforesaid embodiment, moving pictures aredisplayed using the moving picture monitor 4 as display means, thepresent invention is not limited thereto and the moving pictures can bedisplayed on the display of the registration/search terminal 2.

Further, while in the aforesaid embodiment, a hard disk is employed as apredetermined recording medium, the present invention is not onlylimited thereto and recording mediums of various forms, e.g., adisk-form recording medium, such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk,or a tape-form recording medium, e.g., a magnetic tape, can be employed.

Further, while in the aforesaid embodiment, a recorded moving picturedata S6 and a moving picture data control table based on a movingpicture signal S2 are recorded in the disk of the disk unit 6, thepresent invention is not limited thereto and the recorded moving picturedata S6 and the moving picture data control table based on the movingpicture signal S2 can be recorded in different disks or in a recordingdevice such as nonvolatile memory.

Further, while in the aforesaid embodiment, the beginning portion of therecorded moving picture signal S2 on the moving picture reproduction ofthe moving picture searching operation is reproduced, the presentinvention is not limited thereto and various portions of the movingpicture signal S2, for example, a portion (main portion of the movingpicture) corresponding to the keyword of the index information, can bereproduced. That is, an address corresponding to the portion of themoving picture designated by a user is recorded in first moving picturedata address of each moving picture data control table, then the portionof the moving picture data shown by the address can be reproduced on thebrowse operating mode.

Further, while in the aforesaid embodiment, when the user designates thedesignated keyword on the moving picture searching operation, the CPU 9and 23 check it on the basis of the input information signal S1 suppliedfrom the registration/search terminal 2, output the search signal S10 tothe disk unit 6, and read out and search the moving picture data controltable recorded in the disk of the disk unit 6, the present invention isnot limited thereto and, for example, the CPU 9 and 23 can take in themoving picture data control table from the disk unit 6 by driving themoving picture library apparatuses 1 and 21. Thereby the CPU 9 and 23does not need to access to the disk unit 6 when the user designates thedesignated key word, and searching time can be shortened because the CPU9 and 23 can search it at the inside.

Further, while in the aforesaid second embodiment, after the movingpicture signal S2 having respective searched moving picture data controltable is started to be read out, the moving picture signal S2 havingnext moving picture data control table is read out when the next key 25is instructed, the present invention is not limited thereto and thereproducing time designated by the browse operation mode beforehand, ifthe next key 25 is instructed within the designated period, the movingpicture signal S2 having next moving picture data control table can beread out. On the contrary, if the next key 25 is not instructed withinthe designated period, the moving picture signal S2 having next movingpicture data control table can be read out by the browse operation modeafter reproducing for the designated period.

As described above, according to the present invention, of singular orplural moving picture information recorded in a predetermined recordingmedium, the moving picture information which meets the conditionsdesignated by a user and obtained on the basis of the output of inputmeans is searched corresponding to respective moving picture informationon the basis of respective index information recorded in the recordingmedium with each moving picture information. On the other hand, afterthis, when it is confirmed based on the output of the input means thatfirst operation mode is designated by the user, respective searchedmoving picture information are sequentially reproduced at apredetermined timing and displayed on display means. Thereby the usercan check contents of respective moving picture information, havingconditions designated by the user as index information, withoutcomplicated operation, thus the moving picture searching apparatus inwhich recorded moving picture information can be searched easily in thecase of taking out desired moving picture information can be realized.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention can be applicable to means where a lot of movingpictures are stored as a moving picture library apparatus, and themoving pictures can be read out and utilized if necessary.

What is claimed is:
 1. A moving picture reproducing apparatus forreproducing moving pictures stored in a storage medium, the apparatuscomprising: input means for inputting key word information forspecifying some portion of said moving pictures and designated timeinformation for indicating a reproducing period; search means forsearching said moving pictures having information commensurate with saidkey word information, in order to select a plurality of said movingpictures from all moving pictures stored in said storage medium; meansfor specifying a reproduce portion of said plurality of said movingpictures in accordance with said designated time information; and meansfor reproducing said specified reproduce portion of each selected movingpicture respectively, so that said specified reproduce portions of saidplurality of selected moving pictures are sequentially and automaticallyreproduced from said storage medium.
 2. The moving picture reproducingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said search means sequentiallyreproduces said portion of moving picture from the beginning of movingpicture.
 3. The moving picture reproducing apparatus according to claim1, wherein said search means sequentially reproduces said portion ofsaid plurality of said moving pictures at a previously predeterminedportion for said reproduce portion.
 4. The moving picture reproducingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when said search means furtherdetermines that data indicating a designation of a next key operatingmode is input by said input means while reproducing said plurality ofsaid moving pictures, the particular moving picture which is beingcurrently reproduced is interrupted and said search means reproduces thenext moving picture indicated in said keyword information.
 5. The movingpicture reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said keywordinformation indexes the addresses on said recording medium wherecorresponding moving pictures are recorded.
 6. The moving picturereproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said search meansdisplays said keyword information corresponding to said moving pictureswhen selection retrieval ends.
 7. The moving picture reproducingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said keyword information isdisplayed on a display unit which is different from a display unit wheremoving pictures based on the moving pictures searched by said searchmeans are displayed.
 8. The moving picture reproducing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said keyword information is recorded in arecording medium which is different from a recording medium where themoving pictures are recorded.
 9. The moving picture reproducingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said search means records saidkeyword information and said moving pictures according to said datainput by said input means sequentially in a blank area on the recordingmedium; wherein said search means sequentially reproduces said movingpictures according to said keyword information input by said input meansand displays a portion of the reproduced pictures for said predeterminedperiod.
 10. The moving picture reproducing apparatus according to claim9, wherein said means for reproducing displays said keyword informationsimultaneously with the displayed portion of said particular movingpicture.
 11. A method for reproducing moving pictures stored in astorage medium, comprising the steps of: inputting key word informationfor specifying some portion of said moving pictures and designated timeinformation for indicating a reproducing period; searching for aplurality of moving pictures having information commensurate with saidkey word information, in order to select a plurality of moving picturesfrom an all moving pictures stored in said storage medium; specifying areproduce portion of said selected plurality of moving pictures inaccordance with said designated time information; and reproducing saidspecified reproduce portion of selected moving picture respectively sothat said plurality of specified reproduce portions of said plurality ofselected moving pictures are sequentially and automatically reproducedfrom said storage medium.
 12. The method for reproducing moving picturesaccording to claim 11, wherein when said search is finished, saidkeyword information corresponding to found respective moving pictures isdisplayed.
 13. The method for reproducing moving pictures according toclaim 11, wherein in said step of reproducing, when data indicating thedesignation of a next keyword is input, the reproduction of saidplurality of moving pictures which is being currently reproduced isinterrupted and the reproduction of said next moving picture is started.